U.S. patent number 10,969,151 [Application Number 16/116,940] was granted by the patent office on 2021-04-06 for ice making device and method of inspecting the same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION. The grantee listed for this patent is NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Satoshi Tanimura.
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United States Patent |
10,969,151 |
Tanimura |
April 6, 2021 |
Ice making device and method of inspecting the same
Abstract
Provided are an ice making device and a method of inspecting the
same. In the ice making device, signal lines extending from a
temperature sensor are connected to a drive unit. The drive unit
performs an ice removal process of removing ice from an ice making
tray when a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is equal
to or lower than a set temperature. The drive unit performs a
sensor inspection process of automatically inspecting whether the
temperature sensor is abnormal based on an inspection execution
command issued by an operation of a test switch during general
processes including supplying water to the ice making tray and an
ice making process. Thus, inspection of a drive mechanism of the
drive unit and inspection of the temperature sensor can be
performed in a series of operations.
Inventors: |
Tanimura; Satoshi (Nagano,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION |
Nagano |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
(Nagano, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005469228 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/116,940 |
Filed: |
August 30, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20190063811 A1 |
Feb 28, 2019 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 31, 2017 [JP] |
|
|
JP2017-166791 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C
1/10 (20130101); F25C 1/04 (20130101); F25C
1/22 (20130101); F25C 5/06 (20130101); F25C
1/24 (20130101); F25C 2305/022 (20130101); F25C
2600/04 (20130101); F25C 2700/12 (20130101); F25C
2700/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F25C
1/10 (20060101); F25C 1/22 (20180101); F25C
1/24 (20180101); F25C 1/04 (20180101); F25C
5/06 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
101158527 |
|
Apr 2008 |
|
CN |
|
201251331 |
|
Jun 2009 |
|
CN |
|
101818976 |
|
Sep 2010 |
|
CN |
|
105157297 |
|
Dec 2015 |
|
CN |
|
H05157421 |
|
Jun 1993 |
|
JP |
|
05332651 |
|
Dec 1993 |
|
JP |
|
2002181421 |
|
Jun 2002 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
"Office Action of China Counterpart Application", dated Apr. 3,
2020, with English translation, p. 1-p. 12. cited by applicant
.
"Office Action of China Counterpart Application", dated Nov. 18,
2020, with English translation thereof, pp. 1-12. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Ma; Kun Kai
Attorney, Agent or Firm: JCIPRNET
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An ice making device comprising: an ice making tray in which
recessed parts for water storage are disposed upward; a temperature
sensor that is fixed to a bottom surface of the ice making tray;
and a drive unit comprising: a case, a drive mechanism, which
comprises a motor, disposed inside the case, and a sensor
inspection circuit disposed inside the case, wherein a signal line
that extends from the temperature sensor is connected to the drive
unit and the drive unit performs an ice removal process of removing
ice from the ice making tray when a temperature detected by the
temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a set temperature,
wherein the sensor inspection circuit performs a sensor inspection
process of automatically inspecting whether the temperature sensor
has an abnormality comprising a short circuit and disconnection and
determining the content of the abnormality based on an inspection
execution command.
2. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the drive
mechanism is configured to perform an ice removal operation and the
drive unit comprises a controller configured to monitor a detection
result by the temperature sensor and cause the drive mechanism to
perform the ice removal operation when a temperature of the ice
making tray is equal to or lower than a set temperature, and
wherein the sensor inspection circuit is provided in the
controller.
3. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the drive
unit performs the sensor inspection process during general
processes comprising a process of supplying water to the ice making
tray and an ice making process in the ice making tray.
4. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the drive
unit comprises a test switch, and wherein the inspection execution
command is issued when an operation for performing the sensor
inspection process is performed on the test switch.
5. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the drive
unit comprises an AC-DC converter configured to convert an AC
voltage supplied from an outside into a DC voltage, and wherein the
ice removal process and the sensor inspection process are performed
using the DC voltage supplied from the AC-DC converter.
6. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the drive
unit issues a water supply command to a water supply device that
supplies water to the ice making tray.
7. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the
temperature sensor is a thermistor.
8. A method of inspecting an ice making device comprising an ice
making tray in which recessed parts for water storage are disposed
upward; a temperature sensor that is fixed to a bottom surface of
the ice making tray; and a drive unit comprising a case, a drive
mechanism, which comprises a motor, disposed inside the case, and a
sensor inspection circuit disposed inside the case, wherein a
signal line that extends from the temperature sensor is connected
to the drive unit and the drive unit performs an ice removal
process of removing ice from the ice making tray when a temperature
detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a set
temperature, the method comprising: performing, by the sensor
inspection circuit disposed inside the case of the drive unit, a
sensor inspection process of automatically inspecting whether the
temperature sensor has an abnormality comprising a short circuit
and disconnection and determining the content of the abnormality
based on an inspection execution command.
9. The method of inspecting an ice making device according to claim
8, wherein the drive mechanism is configured to perform an ice
removal operation, and a controller configured to monitor a
detection result by the temperature sensor and cause the drive
mechanism to perform the ice removal operation when a temperature
of the ice making tray is equal to or lower than a set temperature
is provided in the drive unit, and wherein the controller performs
the sensor inspection process based on the inspection execution
command.
10. The method of inspecting an ice making device according to
claim 8, wherein the drive unit performs the sensor inspection
process during general processes comprising a process of supplying
water to the ice making tray and an ice making process in the ice
making tray.
11. The method of inspecting an ice making device according to
claim 8, wherein a test switch is provided in the drive unit, and
wherein the inspection execution command is issued when an
operation for performing the sensor inspection process is performed
on the test switch.
12. The method of inspecting an ice making device according to
claim 8, wherein, in the drive unit, an AC-DC converter configured
to convert an AC voltage supplied from an outside into a DC voltage
is provided, and wherein the drive unit automatically performs the
ice removal process and the sensor inspection process using the DC
voltage supplied from the AC-DC converter.
13. The method of inspecting an ice making device according to
claim 8, wherein the drive unit issues a water supply command to a
water supply device that supplies water to the ice making tray.
14. The method of inspecting an ice making device according to
claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermistor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the priority benefit of Japan application
serial no. 2017-166791, filed on Aug. 31, 2017. The entirety of the
above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by
reference herein and made a part of this specification.
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
The disclosure relates to an ice making device configured to
perform an ice removal process based on a monitoring result by a
temperature sensor and a method of inspecting the same.
Related Art
An ice making device mounted in a refrigerator includes an ice
making tray in which recessed parts for water storage are disposed
upward; a temperature sensor such as a thermistor fixed to a bottom
surface of the ice making tray, and a drive unit. The drive unit
performs an ice removal operation of removing ice from the ice
making tray, for example, when a temperature detected by the
temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a set temperature
(refer to Japanese Laid-open No. 2002-181421). Even before the ice
making device is mounted in a refrigerator main body, when the
drive unit is operated, inspection of the drive unit can be
performed.
When a control unit for a drive unit within an ice making device is
provided in a refrigerator main body, and is not provided in the
ice making device, a signal line that extends from a temperature
sensor such as a thermistor is connected to the control unit
provided in the refrigerator main body (outside of the ice making
device) through a connector or the like. Thus, inspection of the
temperature sensor can be performed by the control unit provided
outside the ice making device through the connector. However, when
the drive unit itself monitors a temperature detected by the
temperature sensor, since the signal line of the temperature sensor
is not drawn to the outside, there is a problem that inspection of
the temperature sensor can't be performed until the ice making
device is attached to the refrigerator.
SUMMARY
An ice making device according to the disclosure includes an ice
making tray in which recessed parts for water storage are disposed
upward; a temperature sensor that is fixed to a bottom surface of
the ice making tray; and a drive unit to which a signal line that
extends from the temperature sensor is connected and which performs
an ice removal operation of removing ice from the ice making tray
when a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is equal to
or lower than a set temperature, wherein the drive unit includes a
sensor inspection unit that performs a sensor inspection process of
automatically inspecting whether the temperature sensor has an
abnormality based on an inspection execution command.
A method of inspecting an ice making device according to the
disclosure including an ice making tray in which recessed parts for
water storage are disposed upward, a temperature sensor that is
fixed to a bottom surface of the ice making tray; and a drive unit
to which a signal line that extends from the temperature sensor is
connected and which performs an ice removal operation of removing
ice from the ice making tray when a temperature detected by the
temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a set temperature is
provided, the method including performing, by the drive unit, a
sensor inspection process of automatically inspecting whether the
temperature sensor has an abnormality based on an inspection
execution command.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice making device to which the
disclosure is applied when viewed from the side on which a second
side plate is positioned and viewed obliquely from above.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ice making device
shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from the side on which the second side
plate is positioned and viewed obliquely from above.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ice making device shown in FIG.
1 when viewed from the side on which a second side plate is
positioned and viewed obliquely from below.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an electrical
configuration of a drive unit shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a general operation of an ice making
device 1 shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an inspection operation of the ice
making device shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
The disclosure provides an ice making device in which inspection of
a temperature sensor can be performed when a signal line that
extends from the temperature sensor is connected to a drive unit
and a method of inspecting the same.
In the disclosure, since the signal line that extends from the
temperature sensor is connected to the drive unit, when the ice
making device is mounted in the refrigerator main body, the ice
making device is easily mounted in the refrigerator main body, for
example, because it is not necessary to connect the signal line to
the refrigerator main body. In this case, because the temperature
sensor is not connected to the outside (refrigerator main body) of
the ice making device through a connector or the like, it is not
possible to perform inspection of the temperature sensor through
the connector. However, in the disclosure, using the connection of
the signal line that extends from the temperature sensor to the
drive unit, the drive unit itself automatically performs inspection
of the temperature sensor. Accordingly, even if the signal line
that extends from the temperature sensor is connected to the drive
unit, inspection of the temperature sensor can be performed.
In the ice making device according to the disclosure, an aspect in
which the drive unit includes a drive mechanism configured to
perform an ice removal operation and a control unit configured to
monitor a detection result by the temperature sensor and cause the
drive mechanism to perform the ice removal operation when a
temperature of the ice making tray is equal to or lower than a set
temperature, and the sensor inspection unit is provided in the
control unit can be used. In the method of inspecting an ice making
device according to the disclosure, an aspect in which, in the
drive unit, a drive mechanism configured to perform an ice removal
operation and a control unit configured to monitor a detection
result by the temperature sensor and cause the drive mechanism to
perform the ice removal operation when the temperature of the ice
making tray is equal to or lower than a set temperature are
provided, and the control unit performs the sensor inspection
process based on the inspection execution command can be used.
According to this aspect, inspection of the temperature sensor can
be performed using a microcomputer used for the control unit or the
like.
In the disclosure, an aspect in which the drive unit performs the
sensor inspection process during general processes including a
process of supplying water to the ice making tray and an ice making
process in the ice making tray can be used.
In the disclosure, an aspect in which the drive unit includes a
test switch, and the inspection execution command is issued when an
operation for performing the sensor inspection process is performed
on the test switch can be used.
In the disclosure, an aspect in which the drive unit includes an
AC-DC converter configured to convert an AC voltage supplied from
the outside into a DC voltage, and the ice removal process and the
sensor inspection process are automatically performed using the DC
voltage supplied from the AC-DC converter can be used. In such a
configuration, various processes can be performed in the drive unit
even if there is no DC voltage supplied from the outside. In the
disclosure, an aspect in which the drive unit issues a water supply
command to a water supply device that supplies water to the ice
making tray can be used. According to this aspect, it is suitable
to perform the sensor inspection process during general processes
including the water supply process and the like.
In the disclosure, an aspect in which the temperature sensor is a
thermistor can be used.
In the disclosure, since the signal line that extends from the
temperature sensor is connected to the drive unit, when the ice
making device is mounted in the refrigerator main body, the ice
making device is easily mounted in the refrigerator main body, for
example, because it is not necessary to connect the signal line to
the refrigerator main body. In this case, because the temperature
sensor is not connected to the outside (refrigerator main body) of
the ice making device through a connector or the like, it is not
possible to perform inspection of the temperature sensor through
the connector. However, in the disclosure, using the connection of
the signal line that extends from the temperature sensor to the
drive unit, the drive unit itself automatically performs inspection
of the temperature sensor. Accordingly, even if the signal line
that extends from the temperature sensor is connected to the drive
unit, inspection of the temperature sensor can be performed.
Embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to
the drawings. In the following description, three directions that
cross each other will be described as a first direction X (length
direction), a second direction Y (width direction), and a third
direction Z (vertical direction). In addition, in the description,
X1 refers to one side in the first direction X, X2 refers to the
other side in the first direction X, Y1 refers to one side in the
second direction Y, Y2 refers to the other side in the second
direction Y, Z1 refers to one side (upper side) in the third
direction Z (vertical direction), and Z2 refers to the other side
(lower side) in the third direction Z (vertical direction).
Overall Configuration
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice making device 1 to which the
disclosure is applied when viewed from the side on which a second
side plate 42 is positioned and viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view of the ice making device 1 shown in
FIG. 1 when viewed from the side on which the second side plate 42
is positioned and viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 3 is a
perspective view of the ice making device 1 shown in FIG. 1 when
viewed from the side on which the second side plate 42 is
positioned and viewed obliquely from below.
The ice making device 1 shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 includes an ice
making tray 2 in which recessed parts for water storage 20 (cells)
are dispose toward the one side Z1 (upper side) in the third
direction Z, a drive unit 3 that is disposed on the one side X1 of
the ice making tray 2 in the first direction X, and a frame 4
including a mounting unit 40 on which the drive unit 3 is mounted.
The ice making device 1 is mounted in a refrigerator main body (not
shown). In the refrigerator, water in a water supply tank (not
shown) is filled into the recessed parts for water storage 20 of
the ice making tray 2 through a water supply pipe (not shown) in a
water supply process and ice making is performed in an ice making
process. Then, when the ice making is completed, the drive unit 3
causes the ice making tray 2 to perform an inversion operation
around an axis L0 (first axis) that extends in the first direction
X and a twist operation that is in connection with the inversion
operation in an ice removal process, and thereby causes ice in the
ice making tray 2 to fall into a lower ice storage container (not
shown).
Configuration of Ice Making Tray 2
The ice making tray 2 is a member that is made of a resin material
and molded to have a substantially rectangular planar shape, and is
made of an elastically deformable material. In the ice making tray
2, the plurality of recessed parts for water storage 20 are
arranged in the first direction X and the second direction Y. For
example, in the ice making tray 2, inside a frame part 25 having a
substantially rectangular shape, two recessed parts for water
storage 20 arranged in the second direction Y as a set are disposed
in four rows in the first direction X. In the frame part 25 of the
ice making tray 2, a connecting part (not shown) connected to an
output shaft 33 of the drive unit 3 on the axis L0 is formed on a
wall part 26 that is positioned on the one side X1 in the first
direction X, and a shaft part 28 that is rotatably supported on the
frame 4 on the axis L0 is formed on a wall part 27 that is
positioned on the other side X2 in the first direction X. On the
wall part 27 of the ice making tray 2, a rotation regulating part
29 that comes in contact with the frame 4 when the ice making tray
2 rotates around the axis L0 is formed. The rotation regulating
part 29 causes the ice making tray 2 to perform a twist operation
by preventing rotation of the ice making tray 2.
In the ice making tray 2, on a bottom surface 2a that is positioned
on the other side Z2 in the third direction Z, a plurality of
convex parts 21 reflecting the shape of the plurality of recessed
parts for water storage 20 are arranged. On the bottom surface 2a
of the ice making tray 2, a temperature sensor 8 configured to
detect a temperature of the ice making tray 2 is fixed.
Accordingly, determination of whether ice making is completed in
the ice making tray 2 can be determined whether a temperature
(temperature of the ice making tray 2) detected by the temperature
sensor 8 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. The
temperature sensor 8 is covered with a cover member 9 fixed to the
bottom surface 2a of the ice making tray 2 and direct contact of
cold air in the temperature sensor 8 is prevented. Here, signal
lines 88 and 89 that extend from the temperature sensor 8 are
connected to the drive unit 3. In the present embodiment, the
temperature sensor 8 is a thermistor 80.
Configuration of Frame 4 and the Like
The frame 4 includes a first side plate 41 that extends in the
first direction X along a first side surface 2b of the ice making
tray 2 on one side Y1 in the second direction Y, and the second
side plate 42 that extends in the first direction X along a second
side surface 2c of the ice making tray 2 on the other side Y2 in
the second direction Y. The first side plate 41 and the second side
plate 42 face each other in parallel in the second direction Y. An
ice detection lever 6 whose base end side is connected to the drive
unit 3 is disposed between the second side plate 42 and the ice
making tray 2.
From an upper end 41e (edge on the one side Z1 in the third
direction Z) of the first side plate 41, a first upper plate part
410 projects toward the second side plate 42. The first upper plate
part 410 is bent downward at an intermediate position toward one
side Y1 in the second direction Y and then projects toward the
second side plate 42. From the vicinity of an upper end 42e (edge
on the one side Z1 in the third direction Z) of the second side
plate 42, a second upper plate part 420 projects toward the first
side plate 41. The ice making tray 2 faces upward in an open state
(the one side Z1 in the third direction Z) between the first upper
plate part 410 and the second upper plate part 420. An opening 420a
is formed in the second upper plate part 420. The upper end part of
the ice detection lever 6 is positioned inside the opening
420a.
Ends of the first side plate 41 and the second side plate 42 on the
one side X1 in the first direction X overlap the drive unit 3 when
viewed in the second direction Y. The first side plate 41 and the
second side plate 42 are connected by a plate-like first wall part
43 that is positioned at an end on the one side X1 in the first
direction X and a second wall part 44 that is positioned at an end
on the other side X2 in the first direction X. The first side plate
41 and the second side plate 42 are also connected by an upper
plate part 45 that covers the drive unit 3 from the upper side on
the other side Y2 in the second direction Y. Accordingly, in the
present embodiment, in the frame 4, a space surrounded by the first
side plate 41, the second side plate 42, the first wall part 43,
and the upper plate part 45 forms the mounting unit 40 of the drive
unit 3. A lower part (the other side Z2 in the third direction Z)
of the mounting unit 40 is in an open state. The second wall part
44 is a porous wall in which a plurality of plate-like ribs are
connected to each other, and a shaft hole 440 that rotatably
supports the shaft part 28 of the ice making tray 2 is formed at
the center thereof.
On a wall (an inner wall 411) on the side on which the ice making
tray 2 is positioned in the first side plate 41, a plurality of
reinforcing ribs 411a, 411b, and 411c are formed to extend in the
vertical direction. In the first side plate 41, on a wall (outer
wall) on the side opposite to the ice making tray 2, in the upper
end 41e and a lower end 41f of the first side plate 41, on the
other side X1 of the drive unit 3 in the first direction, a
plurality of attachment parts 414 that fix the frame 4 to a
refrigerator main body when the ice making device 1 is mounted in
the refrigerator main body (not shown) are formed. In the lower end
41f of the first side plate 41, a notch 417 is formed between the
attachment parts 414 adjacent to each other in the first direction
X. A wiring 5 through which power is supplied to the drive unit 3
extends from the drive unit 3 to the other side X2 in the first
direction X along the inner wall 411 of the first side plate 41 and
is then drawn to the outside from the notch 417.
Accordingly, when the drive unit 3 causes the ice making tray 2 to
perform a twist operation in order to perform an ice removal
operation, even if a large force is applied to the frame 4 due to a
reaction force, transmission of the force to the side of the notch
417 of the first side plate 41 is prevented by the attachment part
414 fixed to the refrigerator main body provided on the one side X1
of the notch 417 in the first direction X. Therefore, in the first
side plate 41, since concentration of stress in the vicinity of the
notch 417 can be prevented, it is possible to prevent the first
side plate 41 from being damaged in the vicinity of the notch
417.
Configuration of Drive Unit 3
In FIG. 2, a drive mechanism 15 configured to output rotation from
the output shaft 33 is disposed in the drive unit 3 inside a case 7
molded in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the drive
mechanism 15, a rotation force of the driving source is transmitted
to a cam gear 32 with which the output shaft 33 is integrally
formed through a gear transmission mechanism (not shown). The
output shaft 33 protrudes from a hole 7a of the case 7 to the
outside of the case 7, and is connected to the ice making tray 2.
When ice in the ice making tray 2 is removed, the output shaft 33
rotates around the axis L0 in a counterclockwise CCW direction and
the ice making tray 2 is inverted, and when the ice making tray 2
is returned to an original position, the output shaft 33 rotates in
a clockwise CW direction.
The ice detection lever 6 is disposed at a position adjacent to the
ice making tray 2 on the one side Y1 in the second direction Y. An
ice detection mechanism causing the ice detection lever 6 to rotate
around the axis L1 (second axis) in connection with the cam gear 32
and a switch mechanism to which a signal is input from the
temperature sensor 8 described with reference to FIG. 3 through the
signal lines 88 and 89, and the like are provided in the drive unit
3. The ice detection mechanism is a mechanism for identifying
whether the ice storage container is full or the amount of ice is
insufficient. The ice detection lever 6 is connected to a lever
connecting part 31f of an ice sensing shaft 31 that is driven by a
cam surface of the cam gear 32. Accordingly, in an ice detection
process, when the ice detection lever 6 is rotated around the axis
L1 and lowered into the ice storage container, if the ice detection
lever 6 is lowered below a predetermined position, it is detected
that ice is insufficient, and if the ice detection lever 6 is not
lowered below a predetermined position, it is detected that the ice
storage container is full. In the present embodiment, a push switch
37 to be described below with reference to FIG. 4 is disposed in
the drive unit 3, and the push switch 37 is turned on or off in
connection with rotation of the ice sensing shaft 31. Accordingly,
it is possible to determine whether the ice storage container is
full of ice by monitoring an output from the push switch 37.
The case 7 includes a first case member 71 made of a resin, a
second case member 72 made of a resin, and a third case member 73
made of a resin which are arranged in an overlapping manner in
order from the one side X1 to the other side X2 in the first
direction X. A first circuit board for power supply including an
AC-DC converter 35 to be described below with reference to FIG. 4
and the like and a second circuit board including a control unit 30
to be described below with reference to FIG. 4 are disposed between
the first case member 71 and the second case member 72. In
addition, the drive mechanism 15 including a motor 34 to be
described below with reference to FIG. 4 is disposed between the
first case member 71 and the second case member 72.
Electrical Configuration of Drive Unit 3
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an electrical
configuration of the drive unit 3 shown in FIG. 2 and the like. In
FIG. 4, when the ice making device 1 is mounted in a refrigerator
main body, an AC voltage is supplied from a power supply 51 on the
side of the refrigerator main body to the drive unit 3.
Accordingly, in the drive unit 3, a main switch 36 configured to
turn an electrical connection between the power supply 51 and the
drive unit 3 on or off is provided. In addition, when the ice
making device 1 is mounted in the refrigerator main body, in a
water supply process, water stored in a water supply tank 52 of a
water supply device 55 is supplied to the ice making tray 2 through
a water supply valve 53 and a water supply pipe (not shown). In
addition, the water supply pipe may be directly connected to a
water supply.
The drive unit 3 includes the drive mechanism 15 including the
motor 34 (driving source) such as a DC motor, the control unit 30
configured to control the drive mechanism 15 and the like, and the
push switch 37 for performing an ice detection process. In
addition, the drive unit 3 includes the AC-DC converter 35
configured to convert an AC voltage supplied from the external
power supply 51 into a DC voltage. The DC voltage output from the
AC-DC converter 35 is supplied to the motor 34 and the temperature
sensor 8 through the control unit 30. Accordingly, driving of the
motor 34 and an operation of the control unit 30 are performed
using the DC voltage supplied from the AC-DC converter 35. Here,
the control unit 30 of the drive unit 3 issues a water supply
command to the water supply device 55. Thus, a relay 39 for
outputting the water supply command output from the control unit 30
to the water supply valve 53 of the water supply device 55 is
provided in the drive unit 3.
In the present embodiment, monitoring of a temperature detected by
the temperature sensor 8 is performed by a temperature monitoring
unit 301 provided in the control unit 30. Thus, the signal lines 88
and 89 that extend from the temperature sensor 8 are connected to
the drive unit 3 and are not connected to the refrigerator main
body.
Configuration for Inspection of Temperature Sensor 8
In the present embodiment, in order to perform inspection of the
temperature sensor 8 (the thermistor 80), a sensor inspection unit
302 is provided in the control unit 30, and the sensor inspection
unit 302 includes an inspection circuit, an inspection result
determination unit, and the like. The inspection circuit of the
sensor inspection unit 302 determines short circuiting and
disconnection by comparing a charging time of a capacitor added to
a thermistor circuit and a reference voltage. In addition, a test
switch 38 that is operated from the outside when an inspection of
the temperature sensor 8 is performed is provided in the drive unit
3. The test switch 38 issues an inspection execution command when
it is operated from the outside. Here, when an AD converter is
provided in the inspection circuit, in addition to determination of
whether there is a failure such as a short circuit or
disconnection, content of the failure may be determined.
General Operation
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a general operation of the ice making
device 1 shown in FIG. 1. The operations shown in FIG. 5 are
executed by a program that is stored in advance in a storage unit
such as a ROM or a RAM under control of a microcomputer provided in
the control unit 30. A general operation (general process)
described below is performed when the ice making device 1 is
mounted in the refrigerator main body and a general ice making
operation is performed. However, the general operation shown in
FIG. 5 is performed even if an operation of the ice making device 1
alone is confirmed, and such operation confirmation will be
described below.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the ice making device 1 of the present
embodiment, when the main switch 36 is turned on in Step ST20,
parameters of the drive unit 3 are initialized in Step ST21. Next,
in Step ST22, a command to start a general operation is generated
and the following operation is performed.
First, in Step ST23, it is confirmed whether ice making is
completed by the temperature sensor 8 (the thermistor 80) attached
to the ice making tray 2. Such confirmation is determined according
to whether a temperature of the ice making tray 2 is equal to or
lower than a predetermined temperature by the temperature sensor 8
attached to the ice making tray 2. When a temperature of the ice
making tray 2 is not equal to or lower than a predetermined
temperature, it is determined that ice making is not completed and
waiting is performed until a temperature of the ice making tray 2
is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. In the first
general operation, since water is not supplied to the ice making
tray 2, the temperature sensor 8 checks a temperature of the empty
ice making tray 2.
In Step ST23, when it is determined that a temperature of the ice
making tray 2 is equal to or lower than a predetermined
temperature, it is determined that ice making is completed. In Step
ST24 (ice detection process), the ice detection lever 6 is driven
and it is determined whether the ice storage container is full of
ice. Specifically, when the ice detection lever 6 is lowered to a
predetermined position, it is determined that the ice storage
container is not full of ice. On the other hand, before the ice
detection lever 6 is lowered to a predetermined position, when the
ice detection lever 6 comes in contact with ice in the ice storage
container, it is determined that the ice storage container is full
of ice. In Step ST24, when it is determined that the ice storage
container is full of ice, the ice detection lever 6 is returned to
an initial position in Step ST28. Then, in Step ST29, waiting is
performed for a predetermined time. Then, in Step ST24, again, the
ice detection lever 6 is driven and an ice detection process is
performed.
On the other hand, in the ice detection process in Step ST24, when
it is determined that the ice storage container is not full of ice,
in Step ST25 (ice removal process), the ice making tray 2 is caused
to perform an inversion operation and a twist operation.
Specifically, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when the output shaft 33 of the
drive unit 3 is driven to rotate, the ice making tray 2 rotates
around the axis L0 counterclockwise CCW. When the ice making tray 2
rotates to a predetermined rotation angle (for example,
120.degree.) of 90.degree. or more from a first horizontally
disposed position, the rotation regulating part 29 of the ice
making tray 2 comes in contact with the frame 4. In this state,
even if the ice making tray 2 tries to further rotate, rotation is
prevented and the ice making tray 2 is twisted and deformed.
Therefore, when there is ice in the ice making tray 2, ice is
removed from the ice making tray 2, and falls into the ice storage
container (not shown) provided below the ice making tray 2.
When Step ST25 (ice removal process) is completed, in Step ST26,
the drive unit 3 rotates the ice making tray 2 in reverse around
the axis L0 clockwise CW so that the recessed parts for water
storage 20 face upward, and returns a position of the ice making
tray 2 to the initial position. Next, in Step ST27; the control
unit 30 outputs a water supply command for performing an operation
of supplying water to the ice making tray 2, supply of water to the
ice making tray 2 is performed, and the second general operation is
then performed. In a general operation after the second general
operation, since water supply is performed, ice making is performed
in the ice making tray 2. In Step ST23, when it is confirmed that
ice making is completed based on a temperature of the ice making
tray 2, Step ST24 (ice detection process), Step ST25 (ice removal
process), Step ST26 (operation of returning to an initial
position), and Step ST27 (water supply process) are sequentially
performed.
Inspection Operation
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an inspection operation of the
temperature sensor 8 in the ice making device 1 shown in FIG. 1.
The inspection operation (operation confirmation) shown in FIG. 6
is performed when an operation of performing a sensor inspection
process on the test switch 38 is performed during execution of the
general operation described with reference to FIG. 6. Accordingly,
the following inspection operation is performed when the test
switch 38 is operated even while the ice making device 1 alone
performs operation confirmation of a general operation without
mounting the ice making device 1 in the refrigerator main body, in
addition to being possible when the ice making device 1 is mounted
in the refrigerator main body.
Specifically, in the general operation described with reference to
FIG. 5, in Step ST20, the main switch 36 is turned on. In Step
ST21, after parameters of the drive unit 3 and the like are
initialized, as shown in FIG. 6, when an on operation of performing
a sensor inspection process on the test switch 38 is performed
(Step ST3), the sensor inspection process is performed in Step ST4.
However, when the main switch 36 is operated while the ice removal
process in Step ST25 shown in FIG. 5 is performed, in Step ST26,
the ice making tray 2 is returned to the initial position. Then,
the sensor inspection process is performed in Step ST4 shown in
FIG. 6.
In Step ST4 (sensor inspection process), it is determined whether
the temperature sensor 8 (the thermistor 80) is normal by checking
for disconnection, short circuiting, or the like of the temperature
sensor 8 (the thermistor 80) in Step ST5 (determination
process).
In Step ST5, when it is determined that the temperature sensor 8 is
normal, in Step ST6 (ice detection process), the ice detection
lever 6 is driven and an operation of determining whether the ice
storage container is full of ice is performed. In Step ST6, when it
is determined that the ice storage container is full of ice, the
ice detection lever 6 is returned to the initial position in Step
ST7. On the other hand, when it is determined that the ice storage
container is not full of ice in Step ST6, in Step ST8 (ice removal
process), the inversion operation and the twist operation are
performed on the ice making tray 2, an operation of discharging ice
from the ice making tray 2 into the ice storage container is
performed, and then the position of the ice making tray 2 is
returned to the initial position in Step ST9. Next, in Step ST10,
the control unit 30 outputs a water supply command to perform an
operation of supplying water to the ice making tray 2. Then, a
command to return to Step ST22 described with reference to FIG. 5
and start a general operation is generated, and a general operation
after Step ST23 is performed.
On the other hand, in Step ST5, when it is determined that the
temperature sensor 8 has failed, the operation is stopped in Step
ST11. Accordingly, for example, in a case when downward movement of
the ice detection lever 6 is allowed, if the inversion operation
and the twist operation are performed on the ice making tray 2
after operating the test switch 38, a drive mechanism for the ice
detection lever 6 and the ice making tray 2 can be determined as
normal, and the temperature sensor 8 can also be determined as
normal. On the other hand, in a case when downward movement of the
ice detection lever 6 is allowed, the temperature sensor 8 can be
determined as failed if the inversion operation and the twist
operation are not performed on the ice making tray 2 after
operating the test switch 38.
Main Effects of Present Embodiment
As described above, in the ice making device 1 of the present
embodiment, since signal lines 88 and 89 that extend from the
temperature sensor 8 are connected to the drive unit 3, the ice
making device 1 is easily mounted in the refrigerator main body
because it is not necessary to connect the signal lines 88 and 89
to the refrigerator main body. In this case, the temperature sensor
8 is not connected to the outside (refrigerator main body) of the
ice making device 1 through a connector or the like, inspection of
the temperature sensor 8 can't be performed through the connector.
However, in the present embodiment, using the connection of the
signal lines 88 and 89 that extend from the temperature sensor 8 to
the drive unit 3, the drive unit 3 itself automatically performs
inspection of the temperature sensor 8. Accordingly, even if the
signal lines 88 and 89 that extend from the temperature sensor 8
are connected to the drive unit 3, inspection of the temperature
sensor 8 can be performed by the ice making device 1 alone.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the control unit 30
performs the sensor inspection process ST4 based on the inspection
execution command. Therefore, inspection of the temperature sensor
8 can be performed using a microcomputer used for the control unit
30 or the like. In addition, since the AC-DC converter 35 is
provided in the drive unit 3, various processes can be performed in
the drive unit 3 even if there is no DC voltage supplied from the
outside. In addition, since the drive unit 3 issues a supply water
command to the water supply device 55, the water supply process,
the ice detection process, operation confirmation of the ice
removal process, and the sensor inspection process ST4 can be
performed continuously.
Other Embodiments
The above embodiment is an exemplary example of the disclosure, but
the disclosure is not limited thereto. Various modifications can be
made in a range without departing from the spirit and scope of the
disclosure. For example, while the sensor inspection process is
performed after the water supply process in the above embodiment,
the sensor inspection process may be performed before the water
supply process. While disconnection and short circuiting of the
temperature sensor 8 (the thermistor 80) are inspected in the above
embodiment, an abnormal resistance value may be inspected. While
the drive unit 3 causes the ice making tray 2 to perform the
inversion operation and the twist operation when the ice removal
operation is performed in the above embodiment, the disclosure may
be applied to the ice making device 1 in which the drive unit 3
drives a scraping member that scraps off ice from the ice making
tray 2. While a DC motor is used as the driving source in the above
embodiment, an AC motor, a capacitor motor, or a stepping motor may
be used. In addition, a driving source other than a motor such as a
solenoid may be used. Also, as a liquid to be iced, in addition to
water, beverages such as juice and non-beverages such as a test
reagent can be used. In addition, as a unit for detecting whether
ice in the ice storage container is ready, in addition to the
thermistor 80, a bimetal using a shape memory alloy or the like may
be used as the temperature sensor 8.
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